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Barcelona 'counting on' Adama Traore amid Liverpool loan move links

Barcelona B coach Gerard Lopez is "counting on" Adama Traore to play in his squad this season amid reports that Liverpool want to sign the winger on loan.

Adama, 19, made his La Liga and Champions League debuts with Barcelona's first team in November 2013 but has been a regular for the reserves since.

Catalan Radio station RAC 1 said that Liverpool representatives are in Barcelona to attempt to negotiate Traore's move to Anfield, with the Spain under-19 international previously linked to Stoke City, Everton, Monaco and Bayern Munich.

When asked about Adama's future, Lopez told El Mundo Deportivo: "I'm counting on him."

Adama, who was born in Spain but is of Malian origin, is under contract with Barca until June 2018. A minor injury kept him out of Lopez's squad in Wednesday's preseason friendly against Terrassa.

Barca B endured a disappointing 2014-15 campaign under Jordi Vinyals, one that ended with relegation from Spain's second tier.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said earlier this month that no players from the reserve side would be promoted to the first team.

He said on the club's official website: "I'm not happy with the performances of the youth players this past season. I expected a lot more from them."

Lopez, a former Blaugrana player, took charge of the B team last week on a two-year contract.

Following his appointment, he said on the club's official website: "As Barca B coach, I will have two objectives: getting the side back into Segunda Division and helping to prepare the players to make the step up to the first team.

"My experience in the [Barcelona] academy system will be of great use to me because I can put myself in the players' shoes."